Mail-pouch lock.



Patented Sept. 5, 1399.

J; E. TINGLE;

MAIL POUCH LOCK. (Application md Aug. 12, 1899.)

2 Sheets-finest I.

(No Model.)

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WITNESSES Patented Sept. 5-, I399.

J. E. TINGLE.

MAIL POUCH LOCK.

QAppLication filed Aug. 12, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

(No model.

' Altornej/ WITNESSES m: scams PETER$ co, vumaumm WASHIHGYON, n cyUNITED STATES I PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN E. TINGLE, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

MAIL-POUCH LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 632,598, datedSeptember 5, 1899.

Application filed August 12, 1899. Serial No. 727,037. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J OHN E. TINGLE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana,have invented a new and useful Mail- Pouch Look, of which the followingis a speci fication.

My invention relates to an improvement in mail-pouch locks, the objectsbeing not only to provide a secure, quick-acting, and effectualfastening, but also one which will meet all the requirements oflightness, flexibility, and strength.

With the foregoing objects in view my invention consists of certainnovel features of construction and combinations of parts,which will bemore fully described hereinafter and particularly pointed out in theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front view showing the flapup. Fig. 1 is a detail showing one way of locking the chain againstmovement. Fig. 2 is a vertical seetional view. Fig. 3 is an interiorview of one of the locks. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional View of thesame with the front plate in place thereon, and Fig. 5 is a View showingthe chain 13 bent around the edge of the pouch with the hasp 15 over astaple 16 in lieu of the construction shown in Fig. 1

A represents the pouch, and 1 is the usual flap for closing its openend. The flap is provided on its inner face with a row of projections 22, say six altogether, although any number may be employed in place ofthe staples commonly used in mail-pouches of the presentday. The pouchhas a corresponding number of slots front and rear to receive theseprojections when the pouch is closed.

On the back of the pouch inside, outside, or in the lining is locatedthe locking mechanism. There is a single separate lock for eachprojection and its corresponding slots. These locks are all preciselyalike, and hence but one will be described in detail. This lock iscomposed of two plates 3 and 4, preferably rectangular in form. Plate 3is perfectly flat except where it is transversely crimped across itsupper portion, as at 5. The other plate 4 is in the main similar inform, except that it is offset throughout a considerable portion of itslength from the crimped portion 6 to a point near its lower end andflanged at its edges, as at 7 7. In this way when the plates aretogether a shallow flat chamber Sis formed between them. The plates areeach provided with a slot 9 to correspond in position and shape with theslots in the front and back of the pouch and for the same purpose-.towit, to receive eacha projection on the flap when the latter is closed.

In the chamber 8 is pivotally secured the tumbler 10. This tumblerreaches nearly the length of the chamber and preferably comes to a pointat its upper end opposite the grooves 5 and 6 and is much wider at thelower end, in which portion it is provided with a keyholeslot 11, oneend of which corresponds in shape with the shape of'the slots 9 9 and isadapted to register with the latter when the tumbler is'swung itsextreme distance in one direction and the other end is restricted andcurvedin the are of a circle, the center of which is the pivot 12 of thetumbler. The object of this restricted and curved portion is to enterthe notched sides of-the projections and thus effect afastening. Ineither extreme throw of the tumbler an edge strikes one or the other ofthe flanges 7 approximately throughout its length, which flangeconstitutes a stop for the tumbler.

The two crimped portions 5 and 6 of the companion plates lie face toface and constitute complements of each other, forming a channel, andthrough the latter a chain or other flexible connection 13 passes fromone tumbler to the next, whereby they are all connected together andoperated simultaneously to lock or unlock the bag or pouch across itsentire end. The several locks may be fastened to the pouch by means ofrivets at the corners or in any other convenient manner. A ring 14 ateach end afiords a convenient means for pulling and manipulating thechain, the pulling from one end being employed to lock and from theother to unlock. The hasp 15 at one end is thrown over a staple 16 orequivalent means, where it may be held in the accustomed manner by apadlock 17.

It will be readily appreciated that the fastening when thus constructedis light, easy to operate, perfectly secure, and as flexible as thepouch itself. Likewise, it can be made at a slight cost, which is anitem of importance.

It is evident that slight changes might be made in the form andarrangement of my invention without departing from the spirit and scopeof my device, and hence I do not wish to limit myself to the precisedetails herein set forth; but,

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

l. A mail-pouch having a pair of plates secured together thereupon so asto form a chamber and a way between the plates, said plates having slotstherein, and a tumbler located wholly within the chamber andeccentrically pivoted therein, said tumbler having a registering closedslot restricted at one end, the movements of the tumbler defined by theedges or sides of the chamber, of a flap having a projection adapted toenter said slots in the plates and be engaged and locked by therestricted portion of the slot in the tumbler, and means extending intothe way for operating the tumbler.

2. The combination with a series of fastening devices comprisingcrimped, slotted plates with chambers formed between and by them, oftumblers pivotally mounted in each chamber and having closed slots whichregister with the slots in the plates, said slots having a restrictedinlet to cross the slots in the plates, a flexible device extendingthrough the crimped portion of the plates connecting the severaltumblers together for operating them'simultaneously, and means forlocking the connection whereby the several tumblers are held inposition.

3. The combination with a mail-pouch having slots and a flap, the flaphaving projections corresponding in number with the slots and adapted toenter said slots, of a series of locking devices, each consisting of twoplates having registering slots to receive said projections, said platessecured together so as to form a chamber and a way between them, atumbler pivoted eccentrically between said plates, and located whollywithin said chamher and its movement defined by the edges thereof, eachtumbler provided with a closed slot, one end of which corresponds inshape with the slots in the plates and the other end restricted orsmaller than said slots, whereby to engage the sides of the projections,and

flexible devices connecting the several tumblers together through thewayfor operating them simultaneously.

4E. The combination With a mail-pouch having slots and a flap, said flaphaving projections corresponding in number with and adapted to enter theslots, of locking devices, each consisting of a pair of plates havingslots therein to receive said projections, one plate offset and flangedat the edges and the two secured together to form a chamber between theoffset portion and the flanges, said plates also crimped across theupper ends and forming when together, a channel, tumblers pivoted in thechamber formed between the plates, said tumblers each having a closedslot formed therein, one end corresponding in shape and registering withthe slots in the plates, when in one throw and the other end restrictedand curved in the arc of a circle whose center is the pivot-pin, theflanges at the edges constituting stops for the tumbler, and a flexibleconnection extendingfrom tumbler to tumbler through the channels formedbetween the plates for operating the tumblers simultaneously, and meansfor locking said connection.

JOHN E. TINGLE.

In presence of SAMUEL J. WILsoN, CHARLES E. HALLowAY.

